James the Whaler

This version is of more interest, we have a court case in 1832, of a James Stanaway who, on a whaling ship called the Harmony (apparently the ship did not live up to its name) in and around the Pacific about the same time.

The Harmony sailed from England on 4 August 1830 and was off the coast of New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) by December 1830 when a mutiny occurred with James in the middle of it.

“…. the ship sailed from England in August, 1830. Everything went on well, as far as I am instructed, as respects the crew, until the 26th of December last, when a refractory spirit manifested itself in the conduct of the third mate. At a particular period of that day, it was his duty to be on deck; but, whether contemplating something of an improper character, or from some other cause, he chose, instead of remaining below, to go up to the fore-top-mast. The master, who was on deck, expostulated with him, and desired him to come down. But, gentlemen, what was the reply? “I’ll be d–d if I do!” The master again expostulated, when he answered that “he was not going to be treated like a b–y boy on board,” accompanied with much coarse language and threats. Finding expostulation useless, the master suspended him from duty…”

A long trial was held in Sydney with eleven of the 20 members of the crew up on charges of munity.

The result of the trial was that they were all found guilty and ordered judgement of death to be recorded against the prisoners. Through good fortune the Attorney General announced that he had chosen not to continue with the prosecution. Justice Dowling told them that if they had been called up for judgment, he would have felt constrained to sentence them to death.

We have a record (from the Archives office of NSW) of James Stanaway on 7 June 1832 being pardoned and released from the Hulk Phoenix which was anchored in Sydney Harbour, on condition of him entering into recognizance in the sum of 100 pounds and to be of good behaviour for 12 calendar months. It states;

At this point we do not know what happens to James Stanaway, there are a few shipping notices which have a James Stanaway travelling between Tasmania and Port Philip (Melborne).

If he rejoined the crew on the Harmony his fate may have been recorded in the book “Manners and Customs of the New Zealanders” by Joel Samuel Polack, page 303 and 304 which reads:

The small group of Howe’s Islands closes the account of the minor archipelagos in the vicinity of New Zealand …. The natives inhabiting this group, are descended from the Polynesian islanders. Their treachery was fearfully proved last year (1839), by their cutting off the crew of the “Harmony” whale ship of Sydney, and butchering the commander and his crew…….These facts were made known by one or two of the Harmony’s crew escaping to an American ship, that luckily appeared in the offing, and thus saved them from a similar fate.

This report does not mention the names of the crew who escaped, James could well have been one of them – it would have been a great story he may have shared with this children.

It could also be conceived that after the acquittal James remained in and around Australia where he meets and marries his first wife, before deciding to head for the Hokianga.

The above would allow John to have experience at sea, and being able to handle ships.

It is worth noting that the 1846 Clendon Census list the name “James” Stanaway, as living in Hokianga.

Thanks Max for your comments I have not been able as yet to trace this J Stanaway before or after this even, I have presented what I had on him to this point. I have tried to present the 4 possibles and leave it up to people to decide who they think he may have been – as we get more information we will add this in – I will contact you outside this forum
Greg